Originally founded in 1991 as Harlem RBI, DREAM has grown to annually serve more than 2,500 youth across East Harlem and the South Bronx through a network of seven PreK-12, extended-day, extended-year DREAM Charter Schools and community sports-based youth development programs. Through our commitment to rigorous academics, social-emotional learning, deep family and community engagement, and health and wellness, we create lifelong learners who are equipped to fulfill their vision of success in and out of the classroom. We dream big, as well, with an aggressive five-year plan to expand to serve 3,500 students across seven schools—growing our organization’s impact and leveling the playing field for all children. To learn more, visit wearedream.org.
Reporting directly to the Senior Director of Individual Giving, this frontline fundraising role will help manage a donor stewardship and communications program, as well as directly manage a portfolio of individual donors. The Major Gifts Officer joins at an exciting moment for DREAM and will join a highly committed, highly resourced team of advancement professionals to raise $20M in private philanthropy. The organization is embarking on an ambitious five-year strategic plan and has the vision, team, and fundraising potential necessary for sustainable, meaningful growth.
Within the first 12 months, the Major Gifts Officer should aspire to achieve the following major objectives:
- Engage the majority of their donor portfolio through targeted stewardship touchpoints.
- Successfully execute existing fundraising campaigns, including our year-end appeal and team sponsorship program.
- Develop a suite of donor-facing collateral that all frontline fundraisers use with their portfolios.
Responsibilities
- Portfolio Management and Donor Relations
- Directly cultivate and steward a portfolio of 100 individual donors who give to DREAM in the $10-50K level;
- Conduct targeted outreach to managed donors with the intent to renew and upgrade their annual gifts;
- Track individual donor and donation information in Salesforce;
- Conduct face-to-face meetings, phone calls, and personalized correspondence with major gift prospects to deepen relationships and solicit support;
- Organize and lead donor visits, tours, and events to showcase the impact of their contributions and the ongoing needs of DREAM;
- Collaborate with the Senior Director of Individual Giving to identify and qualify new major gift prospects and create tailored solicitation strategies.
- Campaign and Appeal Management
- Design and execute project plans for recurring appeals, including the year-end appeal and team sponsorships;
- Collaborate with DREAM’s Communications team to design donor-facing digital and print collateral, taking the lead on drafting copy and schedules;
- Coordinate with frontline fundraisers on implementation with specific donor segments (lapsed donors, new donors, etc.);
- Track KPIs and proactively suggest year-over-year improvements;
- Execute team-wide stewardship projects (i.e., holiday cards, email updates), coordinating across streams to circulate lists, draft materials, and ensure timely sends.
- Donor Relations Program
- Develop a library of evergreen collateral that all frontline fundraisers can use, including a refreshed case for support, proposal and report boilerplates, program and initiative snapshots, and stewardship updates;
- Design an annual donor communications calendar that coordinates all touchpoints and engagements across the Advancement team;
- Create ad hoc materials, such as tailored major gift proposals and impact reports, including crafting compelling narratives and impact statements to secure significant contributions;
- Partner with DREAM’s Communications team to experiment with new approaches to donor communications, including video and social media.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree, required;
- 3-5 years development experience, required;
- Experience fundraising by managing a donor portfolio and/or in a sales environment;
- Exceptional written communication skills with the ability to tailor materials to different audiences;
- Strong project management and attention to details;
- Highly collaborative and capacity to partner across teams and departments;
- Experience with Google Suite and Salesforce a plus;
- A commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, specifically, the ability to interact professionally with a diverse group of donors, Board members, staff, students, and families;
- A strong belief in the mission and values of DREAM, including the desire to make a difference in the lives of our students, families, and community.
Working Expectations
- The Major Gifts Officer is part of the Advancement team, which currently works 3 days in the office and up to 2 days remote, per week (subject to change, and with some weeks requiring more time in-person, for example for donor events);
- Some evening and/or weekend work, for example to attend donor events, is required.
Benefits and Paid Time Off
- We offer comprehensive benefits including:
- Flexible Medical Health Plans, subsidizing the majority of costs for the employee, their spouse/domestic partner and children;
- The ability to select between a variety of medical plans according to what best suits the employee’s needs;
- Dental and vision plans;
- Disability benefits;
- Life insurance;
- Up to 12 weeks fully paid of Parental Leave;
- Flexible spending account options;
- Pre-tax commuter benefits (parking and transit);
- Fitness and entertainment discounts;
- A variety of support through our employee assistance program (EAP);
- A 403(b) retirement plan with employer matching up to 4% after one year of employment;
- Referral bonuses;
- All full-time Network Support Team employees are eligible for approximately 48 days off throughout the year including holidays, sick days, personal days and summer Fridays;
- Benefits are subject to change.
Compensation
- DREAM offers a competitive salary commensurate with relevant experience with the potential for an annual performance-based increase. The incoming salary range for this position is $90,000 to $100,000 per year. New hires are typically brought into the organization at a salary closer to the start of the range depending on qualifications, internal equity, and the budgeted amount for the role. All staff are eligible for annual performance-based increases. Because we value staff tenure in each role, we do not currently cap salary ranges.
At DREAM, diversity, equity, and inclusion are a matter of mission.
From our schools to our playing fields, DREAM is committed to building a team where each individual can bring their full identity and experience to work because representation matters—it enriches our team culture, enhances our ability to innovate, and strengthens our impact in and out of the classroom. DREAM engages staff that represent and appreciate the diversity of our majority Black and Hispanic student body, while working to ensure that our practices are equitable, welcoming, and productive. We are dedicated to creating a world where youth, especially youth of color, have permission to dream—along with the tools and opportunities to make their dreams reality.
All Kids Can. This Kid Can.
DREAM is Family.
Fun is a Serious Value.
Teamwork Makes the DREAM Work.
Fail. Persist. Exceed.
DREAM Big.
Applying to DREAM
We know applying for a new job can be a daunting process. In addition, studies have shown that historically underrepresented individuals often only apply to roles if they meet 100% of the qualifications. We encourage all applications! You may be just the person we need. If you have any questions about your application or interview process, do not hesitate to ask your recruiter; we are here to help!
DREAM provides reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable state and local laws. If accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact your recruiter.
